GAINESVILLE — Heath Webb came to Gainesville football with an understanding of the Red Elephants' rich tradition.
But even the first year head coach found himself floored when a pair of assistants put it all into numbers.
"Each coach on the staff had a time to make presentations to the players, and Stacy Young and Dave McConnell put together a little history lesson. It showed that Gainesville has had 89 winning teams and 16 losing teams," Webb said. "That even shocked me to see it laid out like that."
Now Webb's staff and their players' goal is to turn around the trend that has seen the Red Elephants post sub-.500 marks over the past two campaigns -- following a dominant eight-year run that included one state title, three more semifinal appearances and five region crowns. And after taking over from Winder-Barrow in the spring, Webb is optimistic about the determination and willingness of his charges to halt that un-Gainesville like slide.
"What they want most is to put this program where they feel it is supposed to be," Webb said.
To do that, the Red Elephants will lean on two strong lines of scrimmage, anchored by a pair of outstanding offensive tackles -- Damon Mixon and Jordan Williams -- and two disruptive forces on the defensive front -- AJ Toliver and Makius Scott.
Gainesville also has talent and depth at running back and in the defensive secondary. There is a three-way battle at the quarterback spot, however, one that could run right up to kickoff, as Walt Dixon (junior), Gionni Williams (sophomore) and Tristan Lyon (sophomore) look to make their mark.
The Red Elephants will continue to lean on an aggressive, quick defense. The offense, however, will undergo some changes, turning away from a more pass-happy attack and toward a power ground game in Webb's version of the spread.
"We're on schedule, but we're still learning and competing," Webb said.
GAINESVILLE: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Red Elephants
- TEAM COLORS: Red and White
- CURRENT REGION: 8-6A
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Heath Webb, first season
- 2017 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 4-7, reached first round Class 6A playoffs
- KEY LOSSES: WR Tre Blackwell, WR TK Kabir, WR Devonte Mize, LB Keith Harris, DE Trevor Calvert, DE Craig Young, DE Zion Williams, LB Malique Johnson, PK/P Christian Jaimes, QB Tre Luttrell
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Spread/multiple -- The Red Elephants have been a "spread" team for over a decade, but this version of the offense will look decidedly different from the pass-happy attacks of seasons past, as Webb brings a more run-heavy mindset to Gainesville. To be sure Big Red will continue to throw the ball and look for big plays from the quarterback, but there will also be a lot more power ground game behind a stable of backs and an offensive line led by two standout offensive tackles.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 3 returning starters -- Sr. OT Damon Mixon (North Alabama commit), Jr. OT Jordan Williams, Sr. OC Carlos Loredo, Sr. RB Quintavious Hayes, So. RB Montavious Tabor, Jr. RB JD Brooks, Jr. RB Dez Brown, So. RB Ken Hester -- three-way battle at QB
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 3-4 -- Gainesville will still be very active on defense, using a mix of stunts and blitzes to help disrupt opposing attacks and utilizing their speed. The Red Elephants will do so with two standout anchors on the defensive front and a handful of playmakers in the secondary.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 4 returning starters -- Jr. DL Makius Scott, Jr. DL AJ Toliver, Sr. DB Rassie Littlejohn, Jr. CB JD Brooks, Sr. LB Isaac Robinson, Sr. DB Demarquez Brown
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Jr. PK Jhaischion King or So. PK Jimmy Mai, So. P Tristan Lyon or So. P Ronald Penado
- STRENGTH: Determination -- Webb paid tribute to a dedicated and focused group of players that desperately want to reclaim Gainesville's spot as a region and state leader. There have been 89 winning teams in Gainesville history and just 16 losing squads, and Webb says this year's team is determined to avoid a third straight losing record -- something he's witnessed in offseason workouts, which saw his initial roster swell from 37 players to almost 100, and a willingness to learn the new systems and approaches employed by a largely new staff.
- QUESTION: Response to first real adversity -- Webb knows its coming, and he's interested to see what happens when the Red Elephants absorb their first real body blow. If Gainesville takes a punch and bounces right back he will know real progress has already been made.
- KEY GAMES: The non-region schedule does the Red Elephants no early favors, and an imposing list of opposing teams will care little that Gainesville is still learning. It starts with Class 4A semifinalist Mary Persons on the road (Aug. 17) before back-to-back contests with Class 7A foes North Forsyth and Lambert. Then comes a powerhouse Jefferson program and a resurgent Flowery Branch. Then Gainesville opens region play with a bang, taking on defending 8-6A champ Dacula (Sept. 28, home) -- a team sure to be loaded with talent, especially on defense. The Red Elephants went 1-4 in non-region play in 2017, and early success would go a long way for a team looking to measure its changes and regain momentum.
- TRENDING: As stated earlier, Gainesville is not used to losing, and a combined record of 9-13 over 2016-17 is just not up to standards for one of the most tradition-rich programs in the state -- one that went eight straight years (2008-2015) with at least one playoff win -- a span that also included a state championship, state runner-up finish and two semifinal appearances, as well as five region titles. Even though the Red Elephants made the state playoffs in each of the last two campaigns, their goals lie much higher, and Webb understands this.
2018 SCHEDULE
Aug. 17 at Mary Persons
Aug. 24 vs. North Forsyth
Aug. 31 vs. Lambert
Sept. 14 at Jefferson
Sept. 21 vs. Flowery Branch
Sept. 28 vs. Dacula*
Oct. 5 at Habersham Central*
Oct. 19 vs. Winder-Barrow*
Oct. 26 at Apalachee*
Nov. 2 at Lanier*
*- Indicates region contest
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
